Carnation plant named ‘Hilbeagisel’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hilbeagisel’, characterized by its compact, uniformly mounding and upright to broadly spreading plant habit; relatively small leaves; freely flowering habit; white-colored single flowers; and good container performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus L.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILBEAGISEL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus L., grown commercially asa container plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hilbeagisel’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new container Carnation plants withnumerous attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in June, 2011 of a proprietaryselection of Dianthus L. identified as code number 1851, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of DianthusL. identified as code number 1814, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Carnation plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in DeKwakel, The Netherlands in September, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since October, 2012 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Carnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilbeagisel’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilbeagisel’ as a new and distinct Carnationplant:

-   -   1. Compact, uniformly mounding and upright to broadly spreading        plant habit.    -   2. Relatively small leaves.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. White-colored single flowers.    -   5. Good container performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely branching than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation have larger flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Carnation differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation have stronger branches than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation flower earlier than plants of the        male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation have larger flowers than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Carnation and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have light pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Carnation also can be compared to plants of DianthusL. ‘Hilbeadouz’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants ofthe new Carnation differ primarily from plants of ‘Hilbeadouz’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation have longer branches than plants        of ‘Hilbeadouz’.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation flower earlier than plants of        ‘Hilbeadouz’.    -   3. When exposed to low temperatures, plants of the new Carnation        and ‘Hilbeadouz’ differ in flower color as plants of        ‘Hilbeadouz’ have light pink-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Hilbeagisel’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements were grown during the spring in 10.5-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial container Carnation production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C.to 17° C., night temperatures averaged 12° C. and light levels averaged7,000 lux. Plants used for the photograph and description were twelveweeks old. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus L. ‘Hilbeagisel’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Dianthus L. identified as code number 1851, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Dianthus L. identified as code number 1814, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; whitish in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, typically            grown as a container plant; compact, uniformly mounding,            upright to broadly spreading plant habit; growth habit,            moderate to low vigor.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 11.7            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 17.1            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 27 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Freely branching habit            with about 24 main (basal) stems; each main stem with about            four lateral branches; pinching enhances lateral branch            development. Length: About 5,1 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Internode length: About 1.6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect:            Upright to about 45° from vertical. Texture and luster:            Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color, developing:            Close to 145B; at internodes, close to 145A. Color,            developed: Close to 137C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 5.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 mm.        -   Shape.—Narrowly oblanceolate; moderately carinate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate; decurrent.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137C; towards the base, fading to close to 143B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,            close to 137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137B; venation, close to 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower form and flowering habit.—Single flowers arranged            singly or in pairs; freely flowering habit with about 140            flowers developing during the flowering season; flowers face            mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering is continuous from the            spring to late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 9 to 13 weeks after planting.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about ten days on the            plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; clove-like, sweet.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Oblanceolate. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: Close to 137C; towards the base, close to            145A; petal apices, close to NN155A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.1 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 1.7 cm.            Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Narrowly cuneate,            Margin: Distally, dentate; proximally, entire; undulate.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Mostly smooth and            glabrous, proximally, sparsely pubescent, velvety; slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous,            velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to NN155B; at the base, close            to 145C; color does not change with development; venation,            similar to lamina colors. When opening and fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 157D; towards the margins and apex,            close to NN155B; at the base, close to 145B; color does not            change with development; venation, similar to lamina colors.            Petaloids: Petaloid development has not been observed on            plants of the new Carnation.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl; proximal 77.5% portion of the sepals are fused            into a campanulate-shaped calyx. Calyx length: About 1.7 cm.            Calyx diameter: About 5 mm. Sepal length: About 1.7 cm.            Sepal width, at base of “free” portion: About 3 mm. Shape:            Narrowly oblong. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex,            close to 143B to 143C. When opening, lower surface: Close to            137C; towards the base, close to 145A. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, close to 143B to            143C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;            towards the base, close to 143A to 143B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong, Aspect: About 7.5° from the            stem axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 137C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About ten stamens            per flower. Filament length: About 1.8 cm. Filament color:            Close to NN155D; towards the base, fading to close to 150D.            Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            color: Close to 161D. Pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to            155A. Pistils: Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil            length: About 1.4 cm. Stigma diameter: About 4 mm. Stigma            shape: Pointed, spirally curved. Stigma color: Close to            NN155D. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to            NN155D. Ovary color: Close to between 144A to 145C. Fruits            and seeds: Fruit and seed development have not been observed            on plants of the new Carnation.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Carnation    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Carnation have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures about 35° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hilbeagisel’as illustrated and described.